Advanced Manufacturing

It is no secret that Indiana's history is in manufacturing. In Northeast Indiana, we also believe that it is our future. The Indiana companies already working in the advanced manufacturing industry have found a solid workforce that suits their specific needs, an extensive transportation network ready to deliver products to their customers and the seventh lowest business costs in the Nation.

In Northeast Indiana, we understand that Indiana companies competing in the manufacturing market must be specialized, flexible and high-tech. We know that advanced manufacturing requires not only understanding the history and practices of manufacturing, but also embracing new technologies and ideas. Northeast Indiana companies stand on our deep industrial roots as they develop new and better ideas on the firm foundation of advanced manufacturing that has come before.

Advanced Manufacturing Profile

Whitley County Major Employers

Steel Dynamics Inc.	596
C&A Tool Engineering	463
Ultra Electronics- USSI	374
Advanced Assembly, LLC	356
BRC Rubber Group	267
80/20	251
Micropulse	218
Warner Electric	183
Reelcraft Industries	170
Shindigz	163

Whitley County Wages, 2011

Occupation	Average Wage
Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software	$56,056
Electrical Engineers	$58,552
Industrial Engineers	$52,894
Mechanical Engineers	$52,333
Engineering Technicians, Except Drafters	$40,144
First-line Supervisors/Managers of Production and Operating Workers	$50,357
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers	$22,027
Team Assembers	$24,877
Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other	$27,893
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic	$29,848

Workforce Development

We know that education is essential in advanced manufacturing and our local universities and colleges offer certifications and degrees to meet your needs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) offers undergraduate degrees in Industrial Engineering Technology and Mechanical Engineering Technology and certification in advanced manufacturing managament and project management. IPFW also recently opened the Haas Technical Education Center providing students with a hands-on learning opportunity.
Indiana Tech offers undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, and Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering. In addition, Indiana Tech offers a graduate degree in Engineering Management.
Ivy Tech Community College in Fort Wayne offers Associate's degrees in Advanced Manufacturing and Maintenance and certificates in Manufacturing Operations and level 1 Mechatronics.

Sources: Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, EMSI Covered Employment - 2011.4